This was one of those great projects where the homeowner and their interior designer contacted Audio Advice early in the planning process of this magnificent new home. We partnered with Lavish, a full-service design firm based in Raleigh, NC that designs residential and commercial interior design projects to achieve a high functioning & beautiful design in this new construction home. After a few meetings with the homeowner and designer, a plan was created to meet all of their goals before the first wire was pulled.
The homeowner wanted full home automation across two properties on the site with complete control through just one app using a single network. One challenge was the location of the Man Cave/Toy Barn which is not attached to the main home. In addition to the full suite of home automation, they wanted their open great room to be the family hub for immersive gaming and the full Dolby Atmos home theater experience.
What's really fascinating about this property is that you have about a one-mile drive from the gate to the home. We were able to fully automate the control system so as to truly welcome the homeowners & guests into the home. Just inside the home from the garage, there’s a keypad that allows the homeowner to arm the alarm & turn off all of the lights, televisions, and music with one button on their way out the door.
Smart Home Automation
Control4 home automation was chosen as the smart home system. Control4’s panelized lighting system was used to reduce wall clutter along with their video distribution system to keep all of the technology components in a single location. Audio Advice was able to connect the two properties using fiber optic cable and keep them both on the same network and control system. One of the key features was taking what would have been banks of 6-12 different light switches and putting them into one simple scene-based keypad. We’re able to set up different lighting environments based on the time of day or use of the room. For example, we have the family button that can be used to turn on lights for playing board games or just hanging out. Or the nighttime button can be used to set relaxing, mood lighting while watching tv.
Kitchen & Media Room Design
This kitchen is the heart of their home and allows the homeowners to entertain and spend time as a family. With automated smart lighting, the homeowners are able to set the scenes perfectly. They can use bright, task lighting while preparing a meal, or dimmer, warm lighting to set a romantic mood during the meal.
With wifi integrated appliances, the networking infrastructure & electrical details are imperative to a successful operation. We have a host of wired access points throughout the home, but they're all hidden, to maintain the elegance & design of the space. Through close attention to the details & design, we’re able to bring that technology and aesthetic together.
The open concept living room is spectacular and has a full Dolby Atmos system that’s integrated into the design of the room. During the design process, the homeowners mentioned that they wanted a killer home theater, but didn’t want it in a dedicated theater room. Their desire was to integrate it into the areas of the home where they’d spend the most time as a family - the living room and kitchen. To achieve great sound quality with a beautiful design, GoldenEar Invisa series speakers were chosen. The great room uses these along with JL Audio in-wall subwoofers driven by an Anthem receiver to deliver that amazing Dolby Atmos experience. You can see the true craftsmanship used when integrating the ultra-high-performance center channel, 80”+ television, and in-wall subwoofers. There's nothing sitting out in the room and this thing rocks! The look and experience of the room is really customized for the homeowner in terms of what they were looking for aesthetically and of course functionally. It's cozy, warm, and inviting and everything feels very crisp and clean but the millwork detail just really adds to the timeless elegance of this home.
Master Suite
In the master, there are again high ceilings and an incredible fireplace. We used Control4 to allow the homeowners to fully automate the room for their moods. They can set the automated shading to open at a certain time each morning so they wake up to a beautiful view. With the click of one button, the electronic shades can be closed at night and the lights can be turned off.
The spa-like master bathroom turned out absolutely incredible and is loaded with tons of tech. From the bathtub to heated floors & full smart home integration, the homeowners are able to truly relax. We again incorporated high-performance hidden GoldenEar Invisa in-wall speakers and subwoofers throughout the space so that they’re able to take advantage of true multi-room audio throughout all of their living spaces.
Man Cave
As a huge sports fan, one of the most exciting areas for this homeowner is a man-cave that was designed to showcase sports memorabilia. This room is really special and has a completely different vibe than the rest of the home. It was really incredible to see how Lavish was able to design this space uniquely for him, and we were able to give him a wonderful audio and visual experience for having the guys over and watching sports. Off of the man cave, the homeowner wanted a true replica of the Roy Williams Court, and it's pretty safe to say it was achieved. You feel like you're right on the court and even the acoustics just make you feel like you're standing on a basketball court with millions of fans watching.
Outdoor TV & Audio
Outdoor entertainment was equally important and what's amazing about the south is all of the opportunities to go from indoor to outdoor. With multiple outdoor entertainment areas, we wanted to ensure that the homeowner could enjoy nature throughout all seasons.
An entertainment pavilion with outdoor heaters, controlled ceiling fans, and full surround sound brings indoor living outside. A full outdoor kitchen features a sink, grill, refrigerator, full-size outdoor television, outdoor speakers, and outdoor seating.
A high-performance outdoor speaker system fills the rest of the property with Sonance landscaping speakers that feature 8 hidden satellite speakers and two underground 12-inch subwoofers that provide concert-level sound & immerse the entire space.
A fiber optic cable connects the main home to the homeowner's toy barn, which houses his ATVs, boats, and vehicles. The fiber optic cable again provides full control & automation from the main home. The underground cable provides full automation from both areas and eliminates the possibility of it being hit by lightning.
The homeowners could not be more thrilled with the final outcome and how easy the home automation system is to use across both buildings coupled with high-performance sound.
At Audio Advice, we've been designing and installing high-performance home theaters & smart home systems for our customers in North Carolina and the surrounding areas for decades. In fact, we've delivered more custom theaters than anyone in the Southeast! We are now offering Home Theater Design no matter where you live in the United States! If you are interested in a custom home theater or upgrading your current system, give us a call at 888.899.8776, chat with us, or stop by our award-winning showrooms. We can't wait to help you build your ultimate home theater!
